Blue Endeavour

Open ocean aquaculture has a range of benefits including improved biosecurity and a reduction in the effects of seasonal temperature changes. It is also one of the most sustainable and environmentally low-impact methods of producing healthy, nutritious protein.

Here in New Zealand, aquaculture is considered a growth industry with a bright future. So much so, that in 2019 the Government launched a national Aquaculture Strategy with a target of $3 billion by 2035 with open ocean finfish farming named as a key contributor – demonstrating confidence in its future in New Zealand.

New Zealand’s marine estate is more than 15 times the size of our land area, yet we are farming just 0.01% of it. With over four hundred million hectares of ocean space on our doorstep, farming a tiny proportion of the ocean could provide a significant source of healthy and sustainable protein.   

Open ocean aquaculture could significantly contribute to New Zealand’s GDP, provide hundreds of new jobs and help build the profile of New Zealand produce in the global market.  

Yes. Open ocean finfish farms are operating successfully in Australia, Europe, America and China, and there is great potential for open ocean finfish farming to be successful here in New Zealand too. 

The Blue Endeavour farm will be located in the Cook Strait, approximately 7km from Cape Lambert in the outer Marlborough Sounds.  Monitoring data shows that this location provides ideal conditions for farming King salmon because of its cooler temperatures, high flow and deep waters. We have commissioned independent scientists to research temperature, wave heights, current and other key environmental factors to confirm the suitability of the site. 

We will only be farming a tiny fraction of the space referenced in our resource consent application to Marlborough District Council. The farm itself equates to less than 12 surface hectares and public access will still be available in approximately 98% of the space in our application.  

Before the resource consent application for Blue Endeavour was lodged, discussions and face to face meetings were held with a wide range of potentially interested parties including iwi, NGOs, fishers, vessel operators and government departments. These discussions are ongoing and we value the opportunity to have a transparent and consultative application process.

We estimate it will take just under two years to develop the initial farm infrastructure, from June 2025. The first salmon will go to sea shortly afterwards and the first harvest will take place approximately one year later.

Our existing inshore farms are necessary for business continuity and risk mitigation. We will maintain our inshore farming operations as they will help us achieve continuous year-round production.

The farm will consist of two separate blocks pens located in areas specifically chosen to minimse environmental impact. Each block of circular pens will be in a two by five layout, and have a stationery barge attached for accommodation and feed storage. 

It takes around two hours to travel to the Blue Endeavour farm from the Pelorus Sound, depending on vessel and conditions.

We are working with international experts and utilising cutting edge technology to ensure Blue Endeavour is designed and manufactured to withstand the extreme weather conditions the open ocean may pose. Pens  will be made from high-density polyethylene and galvanised steel, they will be kept in place using a mooring grid system attached to the seabed through multiple anchors.  

Accommodation will be available on the barge and it is possible for team members to be there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The health, safety and wellness of our team members is of the utmost importance, in the event of storm conditions they may be evacuated until conditions subside. 

Smolt will likely be transferred from the Marlborough Sounds to Blue Endeavour on a well-boat, which is a specially designed vessel with a tank for the transport of live fish.   

Feeding our salmon is one of the most important operations on our farms, a feed barge with the capacity to hold up to 900 tonnes of feed will be attached to each block of pens at Blue Endeavour. This barge will be able to feed the 10 pens simultaneously and can be operated either directly from the Blue Endeavour site or remotely. Feed will be discharged through a series of pipes located at or near the surface of the water from the feed barge to the pens using a system of either air blowers or water pumps.  

When salmon reach optimum size for harvest, they will likely be transferred from Blue Endeavour on a well-boat to our inshore farms where harvest will take place.   

There is nothing to prevent fishing, boating or other water-based activities occurring around Blue Endeavour so long as it doesn’t interfere with the farming operations and structures. Public access will still be available to approximately 98% of the space referenced in our application.  

Initial monitoring results show the water temperatures at the Blue Endeavour site fall within a suitable range for farming King salmon. We anticipate that the open ocean high-energy conditions and significant depth will be less susceptible to warming sea temperatures.

If approved, Blue Endeavour will operate within the consent conditions imposed by Marlborough District Council (MDC) which will be specific to the Blue Endeavour site. We will ensure these conditions are met by implementing appropriate management plans relating to the seabed, water column, biosecurity and interactions with marine mammals and sea birds. Management plans will also address structural integrity, maintenance, navigational safety, construction and emergency response. These management plans will be certified by MDC and will undergo a regular review process to ensure Blue Endeavour is operated in accordance with best practice.  

Our resource consent application includes up to 10,000 tonnes of feed per block of pens, discharged per year. Our aquaculture teams are specially trained to observe and monitor the feeding process. As per our inshore sites, underwater cameras will be used at the Blue Endeavour farm to closely monitor appetite and activity during each feed, ensuring our salmon receive just the right amount of feed with minimal waste.